VFS at Yeson Voice Center at the 8th of July 2016

[barbie]

One word about crime in Seoul. I very seldom felt so secure in a foreign city like in Seoul. I heard also, that the crime rate is very very low here Seoul. I never was scared about my habbits. When I was going once to a public toilette, one local woman put their bag, mobile phone and money pocket onto the sink in front of the toilette and then she was going into the toilette and left their stuff outside... 

Poeple here are very friendly and also very helpfull.

But trans* seems to be something very exotic, but I was accepted and threated with respect.

As so many people watch each other, even at mid night, the crime rate is extremely low in S. Korea. Young girls walk on heels alone at mid night, and I also do sometimes. Traffic accident is what you should be careful about. A  few bad drivers are like criminal.

And you are anyway very exotic in Seoul and no problem. I also become exotic in Seoul, as most people speak to me in English. And a lot of Chinese tourists speak to me in Chinese, and I am perplexed.

Most Korean can read English, although they do not speak. You can show a simple memo in English on your smartphone screen for communicating with Koreans.

Seoul has been humid and hot. Fortunately, the air quality is nice in July and August.

BTW, I live in Jeju island, and we had heavy rain last night. We have seldom seen the blue sky during the past 3 weeks. Hopefully today we will see the sunshine to go to a beach.

Have a nice stay.

barbie~~

[anjaq]

But trans* seems to be something very exotic, but I was accepted and threated with respect.

If people stare at you or behave strangele, the most common reason for that is probably that you are a Westerner. I am not that tall at 1m72 - in Germany I would guess about 20% of the women my age and younger are as tall or taller than me, with the older generation its different. If I go to Hamburg or Sweden I am even feeling more average. But in Seoul I was towering over all the women and most of the men. So one always sticks out. Plus Koreans seem to love western looks. The ads are often with european or american women or with asian woman made to look european. A lot of Koreans do plastic surgery to look more caucasian, too. So thats another reason people look at visitors. It does not have to be about trans* - I believe in Korea being trans is not any more exotic than in USA or Europe - they have trans pop bands and trans beauty pageants and such, AFAIK.

[barbie]

If people stare at you or behave strangele, the most common reason for that is probably that you are a Westerner. I am not that tall at 1m72 - in Germany I would guess about 20% of the women my age and younger are as tall or taller than me, with the older generation its different. If I go to Hamburg or Sweden I am even feeling more average. But in Seoul I was towering over all the women and most of the men. So one always sticks out. Plus Koreans seem to love western looks. The ads are often with european or american women or with asian woman made to look european. A lot of Koreans do plastic surgery to look more caucasian, too. So thats another reason people look at visitors. It does not have to be about trans* - I believe in Korea being trans is not any more exotic than in USA or Europe - they have trans pop bands and trans beauty pageants and such, AFAIK.

Can be partly true.

I travel around the world, and people watch me everywhere. My height may be a part of the reason. At Frankfurt airport, I saw a young girl who was as tall as 2 meter, and other women as tall as me, but still people watched me.

The average height of old Koreans are short, as they had been malnutritioned (e.g., the Korean war). Young generations are different. Probably young people will not stare at you so much. The people who stare at me in Seoul are mostly aged men.

You may guess why men are looking at my back. I even did not realize that so many people watch my back in the street. They avoid my eyes and tend to not stare at me in the front. But the back is different.



<Near Seoul station>

Russian women do watch my back, too.


<Insadong, Seoul>

And those TV models from other countries are mostly from Russia or Uzbekistan, not from American or western Europe.

barbie~~

[anjaq]

I guess being a very tall asian woman is unusual. Most asian women are not that tall. In Korea I saw a lot of women, especially younger ones with high heels, trying to be taller, I guess - I stuck to flats as I did not want to tower over them even more

For european women especially northern Europe - I think it is less unusual. So being blonde and scandinavian looking, its less uncommon and stare-worthy if you are 1m80 or 1m90 tall, if you look asian, I think its unusual and people may look more. Its just peoples curiousity - they also stare at overweight people or people who miss a limb or people who are very athletic or people who have a rare ethnicity in that area (eg really black skinned people are still very uncommon in northern Europe and get stared at - or vice versa being very white skinned and blonde or red haired will get people to stare at you in South Africa where I had once some work to do).

But of course - also how one dresses makes people look - I think high heels and short skirts in combination with long legs are always something people will take a look at

And yes of course - if they detect the trans thing, they definitely try to catch some views.

[Denjin]

Glad things are still going well!  I quite liked visiting the Buddhist temple whilst I was there.  Definitely an oasis of peace and green in a big city.  The checkup will be over, you'll have had your botox, and be on your way home before you know it!

On the staring side, I don't remember any and I'm 1.78m tall.  Seemed better than Thailand where I had girls coming up to me and asking how I got my skin so white (!?!?!).

[bmiranda]

So nice to read about your 3rd and 4th day post VFS sweetie!

I echo Denjin that I didn't have that tongue numbness neither.

I can see that you managed your surgery to be a vacation too

So, how's your consultation with Dr kim?

Take care and enjoy,
Brenda

[DanielleBasel]

Hi at all

@ barbie and anjaq

I guess my passing is not as good, that poeple where only looking at me because I'm not asian... Well I was being treated very respectfull and this is something I not experience very often in Switzerland...

@ Denjin:

Thank you very much for your kind words... 

@ Brenda:

Thank you very much my dear...Well I was not aware of the thumbness before Dr. Kim informed me before the surgery that this could happen. But like I wrote. It was nothing special... Only strange... 

Like threatened here's my diary of

Day 5

Today I had my appointment with Dr. Kim to check up my vocal chords and to get some lessons for my voice exercises.

After Jessie welcomed me warmly like allways we had to go directly to Dr. Kim. He checked my vocal chords and then he explained very detailed my progress by showing me the pictures while he explained me every thing. It was so interesting and fascinating... My vocal chords are now shortened around one third. The scar is healing up bera well and the asymetry seems to be gone after surgery. I forgot to mention that Dr. Kim saw a thiny asymetry with my vocal chords, which may happend because of my "missuse" of the chords. However this looks quite perfect.

After that I got two botox injections into my neck. I was scared about pain, but Jessie and Dr. Kim felt my nervosity and have taken away my stress by explaing me what will now happen and what Inhave to expect. As well also what I will feel during the injection. And before I realized, that it has started, it was over again. The pain was nearly zero... Phuuuu! Lucky me... 

After that I got the exercices for breathing and resonance technique, which I have to do as much as possible. Luckily the resonance technique was similar to the ones I had with my ENT allready. So I know allready a little bit what will come as soon as I'm allowed to start with sound.

Now the time was come to say good bye to Dr. Kim. For me it was very emotional, because I hope, that this surgery is a huge step into direction of a "normal" life. And so Inhad tears in my eyes... 

Jessie checked again when the driver will bring me to the airport. After that we left the Yeson Voice Center and walked "home" along the Han river.

The rest of the day was a little bit relaxing and packing our bags, because at Day 6 we are going to fligh home. After everything was finished with packing, we where going to a restaurant and eat our final dinner...

I will post in the next few days some photos of the larynx and some other stuff, which Is right now in my luggage, which is unfortunately is in the hold of our airplane, while I write this entry flighing high above the sky into direction home... Gangnam Style... 

Take care to all... 
Danielle

[GeekGirl]

In my experiences, in big cities (Philadelphia, NYC, Boston, San Francisco, Miami), people are always looking at each other and there are judgements made. Some are good, some are bad. My kids and I saw a really tall girl the other day (6' tall) and my 6 year old's first words were, "Wow! She's tall!!!" The girl was across the street and out of earshot. My 11 year thought the same but didn't say it aloud. Kids sometimes don't have filters and say exactly what's on their minds. I responded, "Maybe she's like me." They nodded and we went about our business.

When I look at people, and I look at a hell of a lot of people every day, I make judgements, too. I look to see what they're wearing and if it looks like a good style on them. I study their facial expressions when they interact with others. I notice their hand gestures and body language. Maybe the reason why I study people so much is I do photography and makeup as a side business. What I am saying is there are different reasons why people may stare. Some are bad intentions, but some could be good.

[barbie]

Well I was being treated very respectfull and this is something I not experience very often in Switzerland...

Glad that your surgery went on without any problem so far.

S. Korea is very capitalistic country, probably more than the U.S. or England.
You are a valuable customer, and every sales person or employee knows it very well and has been educated accordingly. A real problem is abusive behavior or excessive demand of a few customers, which frequently become news headlines here.

This is the same for any doctor's office. I regularly go to a nearby dermatologist's office. They know who I am based on my medical record. They treat me very carefully. For example, they avoid calling my real (male) name loudly in the waiting room where a dozen of people are waiting. They come to me, whispering that it is my turn to see the doctor. I have never requested that kind of special treatment, but they seem to understand my situation, as I mostly wear miniskirt.

barbie~~

[DanielleBasel]

Glad that your surgery went on without any problem so far.

S. Korea is very capitalistic country, probably more than the U.S. or England.
You are a valuable customer, and every sales person or employee knows it very well and has been educated accordingly. A real problem is abusive behavior or excessive demand of a few customers, which frequently become news headlines here.

This is the same for any doctor's office. I regularly go to a nearby dermatologist's office. They know who I am based on my medical record. They treat me very carefully. For example, they avoid calling my real (male) name loudly in the waiting room where a dozen of people are waiting. They come to me, whispering that it is my turn to see the doctor. I have never requested that kind of special treatment, but they seem to understand my situation, as I mostly wear miniskirt.

barbie~~

Thank you very much barbie... This describes very precise the experience I had. Except of that commercial behaving people are also very helpfull and friendly. I got some new friends during my flight to Seoul and in Seoul itself. And to these persons I had absolutely no commercial relationsship, so their helpfullnes and friendlyness was not based on money. And this is so great. Strangers where inviting us to their homes for dinner and guiding us trough Seoul.

This is something which I had not expected...

Well I'm so sad that we have left Seoul today. This experience was so great for me

Take care... 
Danielle

[DanielleBasel]

Hi @all

Here are like promised the documents from the examinations:



This one is a before and after surgery image of m vocal chords.

And here is a parts of the results from patient record, which is based on the extensive pre op examination:













There is no pain at all and the most complicate stuff is being quiet and do not speak by accident... 

Take care... 
Danielle

[Rafaela]

Wow... I had no idea vfs generated so much data 

[DanielleBasel]

Wow... I had no idea vfs generated so much data 

Me too either... 

[Denjin]

Yes, they are quite thorough at Dr. Kim's before you get the surgery.

The time flies - you'll be able to speak before you know it.  Can't believe it's four months next week for me!

[DanielleBasel]

Yes, they are quite thorough at Dr. Kim's before you get the surgery.

The time flies - you'll be able to speak before you know it.  Can't believe it's four months next week for me!

Dear Denjin

You're right... Tomorrow I already will reach the two weeks mark... 

I wonder how others have managed to not speak... Did anyone tried to move the lips like they would speak soundless to communicate? Or what about waking up after sleeping... No one experienced the dangerous moment to say "good morning" by accident?

Take care... 
Danielle

[DanielleBasel]

Dear Barbie

I forgot to mention, that I'm very impressed about the photos you posted into this thread. You're looking great honey... 

Thank you very much! And btw... When I look at these pictures (and also read names like "Insadong") I want to go to Seoul again asap... 

Take care... 
Danielle

[Dena]

Dear Denjin

You're right... Tomorrow I already will reach the two weeks mark... 

I wonder how others have managed to not speak... Did anyone tried to move the lips like they would speak soundless to communicate? Or what about waking up after sleeping... No one experienced the dangerous moment to say "good morning" by accident?

Take care... 
Danielle

For me, living by myself reduced the chances that I would speak but I spoke once in my recovery period and knew I made a mistake the moment I did. Other than that I had a sore throat from the surgery, possible because Dr Haben had a hard time getting access and that was a constant reminder not to speak.

[anjaq]

I wonder how others have managed to not speak... Did anyone tried to move the lips like they would speak soundless to communicate? Or what about waking up after sleeping... No one experienced the dangerous moment to say "good morning" by accident?

I avoided trying to move my lips or make any sounds except hissing or whistling. That way it was easier not to accidentially going from moving the lips to whispering (which is even worse than speaking!)
I used hands and my cellphone to communicate (by typing - I had a Swype Keyboard to type fast and the speech assistant app to show what I write in big letters and optinally even talk for me).

However I had two occasions within the first 2 days that I messed up - the morning after surgery the doorbell of the room rang and my freind asked "what is that sound" and of course I answered without thinking - and the other day the toilet in the bathroom of the room we stayed in was again for the 3rd time clogged and flooded the bathroom and I made a sound because of that. Jessie said it happens to most patients to slip up once or twice and she said it did not cause any damage. And I believe that - if I had any damage done to my voice it was from coughing for half an hour almost constantly while I was getting out of anaesthesia and was not even awake enough to consciously stop it

[barbie]

Dear Barbie

I forgot to mention, that I'm very impressed about the photos you posted into this thread. You're looking great honey... 

Thank you very much! And btw... When I look at these pictures (and also read names like "Insadong") I want to go to Seoul again asap... 

Take care... 
Danielle

Oh. Thanks for the praise.
Yes. Insadong is a popular destination for tourists. I also prefer staying there to Gangnam district. I can drink beer and chat with strangers in bars.

I hope you will recover soon, having a beautiful voice.

barbie~~

[Denjin]

So how are things?  It's been a bit over 4 weeks now I think.